Retaining wall



H. B. METTE RETAINING WALL Oct. 29, 1935.

Filed March 23, 1934 INVENTOR. H e rbe r! B. Me? 1%.

A TTORNEYJ,

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of retaining walls and is an improvement upon my Patent Serial No. 1,909,299, May 16, 1933, to which reference may be had for a fuller understanding of the present invention.

In the present case there may be employed the same form of frame structure as is shown in my patent above referred to, and for purposes of illustration, I have here indicated this same frame structure, although it is to be understood that any suitable form of frame may be employed so far as the present improvement is concerned.

The object of the present invention is to devise an improved form of panel unit for use in the same type of retaining wall as is disclosed in my prior patent above referred to.

More specifically, the object is to devise a form of panel unit that will distribute the load to the frame-work, thereby eliminating side-thrust.

It is also within the purview of the present invention that my improved form of panel might be employed for the same general purpose in other specifically difierent constructions. That is, my new form of panel might be employed wherever in a construction. of wall or the like, the distribution of applied load and the elimination of thrust becomes a material consideration.

In addition to the objects hereinbefore stated, other objects and purposes of use of the present invention will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a retaining wall embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View of a portion of my improved wall and indicates especially the panel structure;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a panel unit; I

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but shows a modified form; and

Fig. 6 is another view similar to Fig. 4 and shows a still further modification.

As in my prior patent above referred to, so also here the frame structure to which the panels are applied for forming the wall proper and which are adapted to support the same, is fabricated from various forms of metallic members such as Tbars, channel members, I-beams, angle irons, etc., which may be adopted of any desired size and formed of any desired length, accordingly to the specifications of any given construction.

As in the'prior patented case, the skeleton frame construction is partialy fabricated prior to shipping the same to the field Where it is to be erected, and after assembling the same in position, the metal panels which have already been pre-formed as duplicate parts, are attached to the supporting frame in tiers. Then with the retaining wall in completed form, the earth, etc., is filled in at the rear thereof in the usual manner and the engagement of the back-fill with the rear face of the panel members will further serve as a means of maintaining the same in proper position.

The frame construction will not be described in detail but the disclosure in my prior patent will be relied upon for a fuller understanding.

As in the other case, the trusses which brace and hold the wall in place include as part thereof the main upright members I and 8, which are here shown as of T-form. The lower transverse members l2 are of T-form, channel iron or other desired shape and extend between the end uprights I and the upright member 8 and are secured thereto.

There are also intermediate uprights l3 of T-form with their front sides applied to the vertical fianges of the upper transverse members 9' and I0 and the lower transverse members I2 and they are connected thereto.

Upon erection of the frame construction, the metal panels are applied thereto. These panel members are each formed from sheet metal and each comprises a fiat front member 20 and a corrugated bowed or arched rear member 2|. These companion members are connected together at their side edges in any suitable manner, as for instance, by welding or riveting or by engaging the edges of one member in grooves of the other. These companion members are so arranged. that the convex side of the bowed member will be at the rear so as to receive and distribute the load and its engagement with the fiat plate will prevent side thrust of the bowed member.

The curvature of the bowed member in each instance is in a direction transversely of the direction of extent of the supporting means for the panel, and the corrugations 2 l extend in the same direction as the curvature, that is, horizontally in the presentembodimen't.

In one form of panel unit, (Fig. 4), the edge portion 26 is grooved and receives the edge of the member 2| which is indicated in Fig. 4 as being free of corrugations at its edge portions.

In the form of panel unit shown in Fig. 5, the edge portions of the members 20 and 2| are rivof contact 22.

In Fig. .6, the construction is the same" as in Fig. 5 except that the members 20 and 2| are 5 spot-welded together at the points of contact 23 instead of employing rivets. The same manner of mounting the panel units is employed here as in the other patent referred to; that is, the lower panels are first placed in position and the ,others are placed one above the other throughout the entire height of the wall.

As a means of securing'the panel units in position as they are applied, I employ the spring clips-24 which are securedin any suitable manner to the rearwardly extending flangeslof the upright T-bars l and 8, as indicated inthe drawwhich snap :back into their normal position as the. panels :arethus applied.

Thus, the panel members when applied, are supported one upon another with the horizontal fien esofradjacent flat members in interene gagement, andare maintained in such arrangement by means of the spring clips. The bottom edge of the flat member of each panel unit' is flanged, as indicated at 20, so as to engage over the adjacent plain edge of the fiat member of thepunder-positioned panel unit, as indicated in Fig. 3. This same general form of supporting engagement; is employed also in my prior patentikewise, the adjacent horizontal edge portions of the bowed members of superposed panel units may 'alsoengage each other in the same manner 7 so as to produce a substantially closed wall :through'out both front and rear parts thereof. Thus, with my present form" of panel unit, there is obtained aretaining wall of a double form.

' panel units and henceto the entire wall structure, the load being'i-transmitted to the frame without side thrust; The load of the back-fill out side thrust-of the panel member This is accomplished by'the'combination of the fiat and .bowedpanelelements secured together injthe minimum 1 '7 At the. same time, there isstill obtained" for 'the jfront ofthe 'wallia neat. appearance which can be still further enhancedby application of V da paint; If desired, either one or both of the .panermembers, in each 'cas'e, can b'ej'galvanized. IWhatIclaim is: V -1 Y 1.1. I 1 1. A iretaining structure comprising a means "for securing said 'panels in assembly with the frame-structure'so as to form the wall there of preparatory to1filling inc material at the back j'zthereof, said panels each'in'cluding a-front flat to :be engaged by theend portions of the panel bars .1 and 8 and the angularly disposed clips 24" The corrugationsfilend: added strength to the will be impressed upon the arch of the bowed surface and will be distributed to the frame with i '7. A retaining wall structure comprising ametal manner explained. This .means reducing to -aj v frame,separate'unitary metal panels, and'means.

'thefdanger of'c ollapse of .th'e panel.

;;metal frame, separate unitary metal panels, and 1 member and arear bowed element having'its ends affixed thereto and with its convex side towards the rear so as to distribute the load applied theretoto the frame.

2; A retaining wall structure comprising a 5 metal frame, metal panels, and means for securing said panels in assembly with the frame structureso as to form the wall thereof preparatory to filling in material at the back thereof, each panel including a fiat element and a bowed ele- 1Q ment with its convex side towardsthe rear and the direction of the same being transverse to for thepanel so as to distribute the load applied f theretoito the frame. n c q '15 .3..- A retaining wall structure 1 comprising a metal frame, separate unitary panels, and means for securing said .panels' in assembly with the frame structure so as to form the wall thereof 'ing in thddirection of the curvature of the bowedelement.

the direction of extent of the supportingmeans 4. A retaining wall structure comprising. a'

metal frame, separate unitary metal panels in assembly with the frame'structure so as to form the wall thereof preparatory to filling in-material' at the back thereof, said panels including a substantially flat element and a rear bowed element, anchored at the ends of its'bow to the edge portions of saidflat'element, whereby the load ape plied to. the rear of the structure is distributed laterally to the frame without lateral thrust.

:5. ,A structurevcomprising a" supporting frame, separate, self-contained metal panels, and means for supporting said panels in assembly with'fthem: framasaid panels each. including a flat metal"; plateand a bowed metal 'member connected toi separate, -self=contained unitary metal panels the flat element and-with its convex side arranged eachfincludinga fiat metal plate anda bowed S 'metal member connected at its ends to the,edge-.,-

portions of. said flatplate, the convex. side of each panelfa'rranged to receive the loadso as-to dis said panels in assembly with the frame.-

for securingsaid panels in assembly with the framestructure'so asto'form the wall thereof tribute the load to the ,frame laterally and to 1 V prevent side thrust, and means for supporting preparatory to filling in material at the back thereof, said panels each including :a front flat plied thereto to the frame; the adjacent horizontal other; 1

7 3 1 member andarear bowed element having its 1 endsaflixed thereto and withiits convexside 1 towards the rear soas'to distributethe loadiap- 1 1 HERBERT 

